Divorce

A divorce is invariably a life-altering event and one of the most stressful times in a person’s life. In our firm’s 25-year history, we have helped guide thousands of Tennessee divorce clients through this difficult process. Our goal is to shoulder much of the burden of the fear and anxiety that you inevitably feel about your family’s future and allow you to focus on your children, your job, and caring for yourself.

In Tennessee, the dissolution of marriage involves negotiating critical issues such as:

Child custody and visitation

Child and spousal support

Property division, including business valuation and the determination of income available for support

Process

Tennessee does not recognize what is commonly known as “no-fault divorce.” However, one of the grounds for divorce that is recognized by Tennessee courts is irreconcilable differences. To be divorced on the grounds of irreconcilable differences, both spouses must be in complete agreement on all aspects of the dissolution. You must file with the court a Marital Dissolution Agreement providing for an equitable settlement of all assets and debts, as well as a Permanent Parenting Plan, which makes sufficient provision for the custody and support of any children of the marriage, if any.

When there is no agreement as to all the terms of the divorce, we can help guide you through the process of dividing your property and determining the best outcome for your children. Whether our client controls the marital assets or knows relatively little about the marital estate or their spouse’s income, we are adept at positioning our clients for the best possible result .

In Tennessee, a divorce must have been on file for at least ninety days before it can be granted by the court if there are minor children of the marriage, or at least sixty days when there are no children.

High Net Worth Divorce

Common issues that may arise during a high net worth divorce include tax liability, valuation of businesses, income reporting, estate matters, spousal support, child support and damage control. The valuation of valuable assets such as private investments, closely-held business interests, holdings of publicly traded securities, brokerage accounts, retirement accounts, and physical assets like antiques, coin or art collections, vehicles, watercraft, or aircraft are commonly encountered in complex financial cases and often require valuation experts to work with the attorney to ensure an accurate and fair division of assets.

Representing high net worth individuals in complex financial matters requires sophisticated financial understanding and in-depth knowledge of the law. Our uniquely focused practice and over half a century of combined experience in all aspects of Tennessee divorce law ensures that we have the skill and capacity to provide the best service for our clients’ needs.

If you are contemplating divorce, or your spouse has told you that he or she is contemplating a divorce, you should immediately explore your rights and protect your interests. At Sobieski, Messer & Elledge, our experienced family law attorneys take care in guiding you through the myriad personal and financial decisions involved in the process. We also help anticipate and plan for short- and long-term consequences of those decisions.

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